Thur experience for Cost (Material & Labor) what have you found to be the most cost effective combination of pipe & wire??? Pvc Sch. 40 with Alum or Copper . I;m looking for 3000 amps. Another words 500 mcm , 750, 1000 copper or alum. 4 wires in a conduit. Useing 310.16 75C & 110.14c for terms. Yoopers Also mostly 480 volt loads so Neutral can be 12 1/2 percent of phase conductors right.
At 3000 Amps your 'window' becomes restrictive, you'll need to stuff 400 Amps in each of eight pipes. That means that you might be forced to go with copper in schedule 40 PVC.
By comparison, bus duct can be had at 3000 Amps in AL.
The shorter path and cheaper conductor makes bus duct a serious competitor.
Another consideration with bus duct is the difference in labor hours. Slap up 1 10' length of bus duct and you're done with 10' of feed. For 10' of conduit you still have to pull and terminate the wires...PLUS you have multiple sets of everything.
Ernie- You've left out some details (as usual) and I wonder if the question factors in the grounding conductor? With metal raceway - no ground wire- with non-metallic you will need a ground wire- since this is not service. Right? Wrong?
George Service conduits from utility Co, transformer to Service gear that means NO GROUND WIRE. Total run is Aprox. 40feet and yes I know about requrements of Parrell runs. Buss 90's if you've ever installed then cost a bundle as well as regular buss. But I agree worth a price compaireson.
